Arts & Culture

JDub Produces Hidden Melodies Revealed in San Francisco

On the second night of Rosh Hashanah, the line stretched down the block and around the corner with hundreds of people eager to enter San Francisco’s most famous synagogue, Temple Emanu-El. But this crowd didn’t need to purchase high priced … Read More

On the second night of Rosh Hashanah, the line stretched down the block and around the corner with hundreds of people eager to enter San Francisco’s most famous synagogue, Temple Emanu-El. But this crowd didn’t need to purchase high priced tickets and wasn’t there for a traditional Rosh Hashanah service, in fact, for most people in line, this would be the only time they stepped foot in a Jewish space during the entire holiday.

The crowd was instead waiting to enter Hidden Melodies Revealed, a secret celebration of Rosh Hashanah with JDub Recording artist The Sway Machinery. [Editor's note: This event was promoted on Jewcy, and JDub records is an advertiser on the site.] 641 people entered the Temple for an experience unlike any a San Francisco Temple had ever seen. As soon as Sway Machinery hit the stage, hundreds rose from their seats to dance in the aisles and the foot of the stage, in a truly unique way to bring in the new year.

Some in the audience commented on how they hadn’t celebrated the holiday in years, for others, it was a different way to reflect on their culture and welcome in a new year. As with their LA show two days prior, The Sway Machinery put on another incredible performance, bringing new life and excitement to liturgy and prayers that have been sung and recited in familiar melodies for decades. This wasn’t your grandparent’s Rosh Hashanah service, nor was it Rosh Hashanah with a Klezmer twist, it was experimental, avant garde rock that brought a different perspective to one of Judaism’s highest profile holidays. As the events producer, I could not have been happier with the turnout and the performance the band gave. It was a transcendent experience and I look forward to helping create more moments like this in the future.